POLYCULTURE OF CHANNEL CATFISH,Ictalurus punctatus, WITH POST‐LARVAL AND JUVENILE PRAWNS,Macrobrachium rosenbergii

Abstract

ABSTRACTPost‐larval (0.01 g) and juvenile (0.2 g) Malaysian prawns (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) were stocked with channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) fingerlings (66 9) in earthen ponds. Prawns and catfish were stocked at densities of 4,940 per ha and 7,410 per ha respectively. There were five treatments: replicated ponds stocked with post‐larval prawns and channel catfish; post‐larval prawns only, juvenile prawns and channel catfish, juvenile prawns only, and catfish only. Prawns and catfish were stocked on 26 June and harvested 107 days later on 10 October. Prawn survival in ponds without catfish averaged 90%. This was significantly higher (p< 0.05) than survival of prawns in ponds with catfish (81%). Prawn yield averaged 192 kg per ha in ponds without catfish. This was significantly higher (p< 0.01) than the 124 kg per ha of prawns harvested from ponds with catfish. There were no significant differences (p> 0.05) in prawn survival, average size of prawns at harvest, and prawn yields between prawns stocked as postlarvae and prawns stocked as juveniles. There were no significant differences (p> 0.05) in catfish survival, average weight of catfish at harvest, and catfish yields among all treatments. Catfish survival averaged 83%; the average weight of catfish at harvest was 315 g, and the average catfish yield was 1,968 kg per ha. The good prawn survival, and the fact that prawns reached large sizes (30 g+) in a growing season that could have been extended by 40 days, indicates that there may be a potential for the integration of prawns into catfish farming.